As it’s St Fillan’s 900th anniversary I’m looking at Rev. Rutherford’s children’s address, where he talks about the history of the church, this one is for 12th November 1967, it was Remembrance Sunday and is talking about the volunteers.
This morning boys and girls, we are remembering those who in two great wars responded to the call of duty to defend their country against those who would disturb our peace, and take away our freedom. Thousands responded to this call at great cost to themselves, for all it meant losing the comfort of their homes, for some it meant losing safe jobs, for some it meant losing limbs, for some losing health, and for quite a number losing life itself, and it is for those last three that we particularly remember this morning. We thank God that so many in 1914 and 1939 there were so many who were willing, as the prayer says, “to give and not count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds”.
This has always been so and we have a reminder in the church of that. It is facing you as you enter. About 170 years ago it was feared that the French under Napoleon might attempt to invade the country, and in every parish there were those who responded to the call and formed a defence force – they were called the Volunteers.
As you can see they signed their names and promised, all seventy of them, to defend the country against invasion. Well, they were never needed, but they gave up their time to drill and train to be ready to fight. A grand sight they must have made when they marched in the Volunteers Park carrying their colours before them. They had a motto which translated from Latin is, “Trust in soul; and prepare for whatever may happen”.
Place your trust in God. who loves and cares for you in all the ups and downs of life, and the scout motto (?). Life may catch us out in failure, disappointment, sickness, loss or sorrow, but remember God loves and cares for us.